State Rep. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, will serve out the remainder of Sen. Lois Court’s term after winning 79% of the votes at Thursday night’s vacancy committee meeting.

“I am humbled and honored by your trust in me and I will work hard every single day to earn that trust,” Hansen told the group of 120 Democrats from Denver and Arapahoe counties afterward.

Hansen, who succeeded Court as the House District 6 member in 2017, said that his first day representing Senate District 31 will be on Tuesday, after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Currently a member of the powerful Joint Budget Committee, he said he will discuss with Senate leaders on Friday which committee assignments he will have.

Several state and local leaders were in attendance at the vacancy meeting, either as electors or onlookers. House Majority Leader Alec Garnett, Denver District Attorney Beth McCann and multiple city council members were in the room.

Attorney General Phil Weiser nominated Hansen for the job, telling the electors that “we need a team player” and “someone with deep passion and perspective who is committed to the number one issue of our time: addressing climate change.”

Rep. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, seconded Hansen’s nomination, saying she sat next to him on the House floor for two years. She revealed that she recently talked with Court, whom she called a mentor, and “her exact words about Chris Hansen were: ‘Janet, Chris is a terrific guy.’”

Hansen, in his speech, told the audience that he was running on his record. He mentioned passing the bill “that ended coal-fired power in the state,” to applause, adding that “climate change is the crisis of our time.”

There were four other declared candidates heading into Thursday’s meeting, with no additional nominations from the floor.

Robert Messman, a turnaround consultant, said that he was new to politics and “someone’s gonna have to show me how to kiss babies at some point.” He stated that his qualification was being an expert problem-solver.

Olivia Miller highlighted a strong gun control platform, saying that she walked out of an October climate change rally in Denver’s Civic Center Park because she realized what a vulnerable place for a mass shooting it was.

“I will fight to keep Coloradans safe,” she vowed.

Maria Orms, who filed her candidacy on Dec. 5 to run for the Senate seat at the end of Court’s term in 2020, promised to end fracking and blasted the extraction industry.

“The oil and gas industry has been allowed to invade our neighborhoods with these processes and these chemicals that put our health and our lives at risk,” she said. “The time for incremental change was 10 years ago.”

Doug Williams made healthcare his main issue, recalling how he was the caregiver for his sister-and-law and she received exorbitant medical bills after a heart attack.

“The only way to get out of those [bills] is to die,” he said.

Some electors were pleased with the prominent focus on climate change.

“I’m a younger voter so definitely climate change is very high on my mind,” said David Farmer of Denver. “I’m going to be living for quite a while and we all want myself and my children to have a habitable place.”

Natalie Mozer-Renn called it “one of several items” she wanted to hear. “There wasn’t as much about healthcare and general equity,” she said. She defined equity as issues pertaining to inequality and disadvantages between groups.

Christopher Eliot of Denver said he met Hansen for the first time earlier this week.

“What wasn’t mentioned was that he has a master’s degree…from MIT and a degree from Oxford University,” Eliot said. “Maria Orms on the other hand breathes fire. She’s much better at presenting and campaigning, I think. Much more powerful personality.”

He added, though, that he voted for Hansen.

Val Flores, a member of the State Board of Education for the First Congressional District, said she was disappointed not to hear more about education from the candidates.

“We really do need to get monies for education.” She said she thinks Hansen understands the issue and will work on it. “And I’ll be there,” she promised.

Roughly a dozen people who were not electors observed from a back room. One onlooker said that the group was surprised at the decisive margin for Hansen on the first ballot.

One person not in attendance but who was on the minds of many was Court. As a four-term state representative before becoming a senator, Court announced last year that she would not run for a second term.

On Jan. 6, she revealed a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that attacks the nervous system. She elected to resign effective Jan. 16.

Vacancy Committee Vice Chair Jo Ann Fujioka related that Court was out of the hospital and in rehab. Calling her an “absolute warrior” in advocating for the right to die and for changes to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights’ revenue constraints, Fujioka also read a statement from Court.

“Lots of folks have asked what they can do for me. Well, there are three things I would like for you to do,” Court wrote. “Continue your advocacy, speaking your mind to your state senator. Continue being an active participant in our democracy. Continue to show the same wonderful support and enthusiasm for whomever replaces me as you have to me during my 11 years in office.”

Mozer-Renn said it was very important for her to choose someone to carry on Court’s legacy. “I think Chris Hansen has the background and knowledge. Lois Court was amazing in how knowledgeable she was,” she said.

Hansen’s selection will trigger another vacancy committee in House District 6. When his successor is seated, 11% of the General Assembly will have been chosen by committee since the 2018 election.